Serendipitous

High up in the Mt Shasta mountains rang a bell for the sisters in the convent to join in the preparations for the holiday meal. Outside the winter winds were whistling through the snow packed valley while inside the nunnery a festivity burned glowing a magnificent warmth. Roast Turkeys cooked in an outdoor smoker built by the monks who lived in the Buddhist monastery, Shasta Abbey. Inside in the kitchen the sisters baked bread & pies in ovens while a kettle of sweet potatoes simmered over a fire. Thanksgiving was a time for gathering to celebrate the harvest where the convent took pride in offering the manifestation of a sacred meal that began with the hard labor of grinding flour from the grains of gathered wheat. One particular girl who had difficulty with accepting her role as a sister entered through the door looking as if she had been jilted by the hand of God. Mother Superior remembered how she met the child who she found wondering in the forest with a basket of manna she stated was given by the creator that fell from the heaven & tasting of honey. The Reverend Mother had never seen bread of this nature. It seemed the girl was gifted as she had gathered a divine substance made from biblical times. The summer day seemed ages ago, as she was invited to become a sister, although prayers & vows were not her nature. Godlike in a strange sense, she wouldn’t say her name so they named her Mary. Now with the first snow on the ground she wore a tight blanket bundled around her frail body that was almost as pale as the snowflakes themselves. Mary! Come in & warm yourself by the hearth. She stood still hanging her head as if too meek to move. The other sisters reported that she hadn’t showed up for regular meals while she prayed continually to a painting hanging in the chapel. Mary, please, remove that dreadful blanket! Reverend Mother grabbed the covering with Mary holding onto the cloth defensive in resistance. She’s hiding something! Sister Carmen said with Sister Agnes agreeing. It’s obvious she isn’t feeling well, she could have a fever & I should examine her if we can bring her to the hot spring. Sister Ignatia who was a nurse practitioner suggested. Mary loved the hot spring as they were natural pools of volcanic water that were as sacred as the mountain to the nunnery. All the sisters took her hands sweeping her outside, down the trail to the springs. Taking her to the water Mary slowly dropped her covering wearing not her robe but naked. Under the moonlight it was hard to see her body as she dipped in renewing her spirit. Sister Ignatia waded in feeling her forehead for a temperature. The watching nuns sat on side benches while steam gave warm vapors. Reverend Mother asked for Sister Ignatias diagnoses. The moon suddenly grew brighter allowing her body to almost resonate in the moon beam. Then she saw it, Mary had a whole stomach. Overwhelmed at the sight of pregnancy Sister Ignatia gasped! What is it? What do you see? Sister Ignatia could only say, Reverend Mother, please come closer! Stepping in the moonlit water the Reverend Mother saw she was with child as if a unusual miracle had taken place. Alright girls, everyone back to our festivities! The small group of robed women filed back inside while nurse Ignatia reported that her womb felt as if she were at least six months endowed. Her robe was brought to her while Revered Mother instructed the convent to act normally as the monks would be there soon. It was a mixed uniting of Catholic & Buddhist, that had been a tradition of the Shasta convent & abbey for many years. The shaven heads of the monks bowed in honor to the welcoming Sisters as they received a well harvested meal. Prayer beads were offered as gifts while prayers were said blessing the food. Goblets of cranberry juice was toasted that made the holiday merry as the main course was served of the cherished bird. Where is sister Mary? I wanted to taste the bread she finds in the forest? The Eldest lama asked. Reverend Mother quickly thought up an excuse stating she had labored long in the preparations & had taken rest until morning. He told how he wished for her to hear the sacred music of the meditation harp traditional of the brotherhood. Sacred music would help the dear creature sleep more soundly, let here meditate on it in her dreams! Sister Ignatia reassured as chairs were pulled back & hot tea was served. The harps were played giving a ceremonial feel to the party while one of the female monks handed out fortune cookies. When the music stopped, the fortunes were then read. Unraveling the paper, the lama looked at his fortune oddly. What is it? What does your fortune read? The fortunes with the note written in ink were considered a sacred element empowered by the ancestors. It reads, one of you shall give birth! Reverend mother almost choked on her tea. How could this be? Sister Carmen exclaimed. The table began to chatter in confusion. Reverend mother circled her finger around a water glass creating a high pitched sound clearing the chatter. Now enough excitement, it’s off to your rooms! Each nun stood & bowed to the lama, The absence of the sisters left only Reverend mother & nurse Ignatia. I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding. I prefer rice candy. The shaven head of the female monk said called Jing. She told how a fortune telling fish that conformed to the palm was favored by children. There were children in the villages below, as they visited the convent. Reverend mother pondered while the thought of conceiving never crossed her mind. The night ended in candlelight splendor of a well fed Monastery family. Sunrise the following morning looked like a Chinese dragon stretching across the sky. Reverend mother & Sister Ignatia visited Mary for more answers. There wasn’t any farmboy! She insisted. Then how? Storming out of her room she led the way to the chapel. Inside hung a painting never noticed before. Pointing to the painting that resembled the art of the Middle Ages she indicated that the seed of God escaped from the canvass. Reverend mother rolled her eyes in disbelief. Studying the brush strokes closely Sister Ignatia asked for a demonstration. How can it happen when I am already full of its fruit? It can’t happen with us, we’re past the age! We must find a younger sister! They whispered while Mary informed them of the additional problem of a pregnant sister. She’s right, we aren’t sure what to do on Mary’s condition. The nurse who was skeptical of the whole concept said. Then we shall make a chastity belt! Preparations of the belt took a whole week as one was made of metal of hard iron breeches. This is to block a divine painting? The metalworker asked who made horseshoes for a living. How he knew this might have been for told by old man winter. When the belt was finished it seemed to blend in with the artwork as the metal had indented stars matching the painting. A young girl who was not yet a confirmed nun volunteered for the sitting. She wanted to see if the falling of creation from painted stars was true. Why she looks like the Goddess Venus wearing the belt of Orion! Nurse Ignatia exclaimed as she slipped a robe over her. Kneeling in front of the art, she began to pray into the night. Reverend mother watched from a distant with her hand held telescope she used to watch real stars. Prayers repeated over & over intensified making the candles flicker in anticipation. Suddenly a flash of paint flew off the canvass towards the robed mistress, only to bounce off the chastity belt! If I hadn’t seen the paint move, I wouldn’t believe it! Outside the chapel window it began to snow. Sister Ignatia helped the girl out of the belt while she exclaimed it had been a very entertaining experience. The next day the painting was removed & taken to a museum for study. What they found was quite out of the ordinary. The expert in art restoration was intrigued at finding the paint source was not the seed of man, but something alien, dna not known. Could Angels or God himself have alien Dna? The Reverend mother asked. One never knows, I’m not a philosopher. The examiner looked closely with a magnifying eye piece searching for a signature. When finding a faint marking he photographed a closeup. I think I’ve found the artist name, it would be wise to see just who the devil he is.. Thank you, She said taking the print out and stuffing it into her habit pocket. This may take some time.